calcium dosage

[keith gray]

If I want to increase some calcium levels will this help the growth of my corals enough to make it worth it ? I don't have the funds for pumps or any of that. Just wondered if anyone knew of a product I can add during waterchanges or whatever to help muscle them up !

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by Keith Gray
http:///forum/post/3204536
If I want to increase some calcium levels will this help the growth of my corals enough to make it worth it ? I don't have the funds for pumps or any of that. Just wondered if anyone knew of a product I can add during waterchanges or whatever to help muscle them up !
Well, what are your levels? Specifically what are you Calcium, Magnesium and dKH readings? All three go hand in hand with each other.
How often do you do water changes? What's in your tank (corals/inverts/fish)? What size tank and how old? What type of salt do you use?
Usually a two part alkalinity/calcium buffer works best. I use BrightWells Reef Code A and B two part.

 

[keith gray]

I have a 65gal about 5 years old.
I have a pugger, maroon clown, blue hippo, gold rim tang
1-star polyp
3- zoos if different sorts
1- toadstool
1- frogspawn
about 60-70 lbs live rock
deep sand bad
wet dry no bioballs- live rock and chaeto instead
little cheapo skimmer that seems to d ot he job(it came in wet/dry system)
My calcium is about 380 according to LFS
Don't know magnesium
PH about 8.3
NItrates 30

 

[keith gray]

oh yeh, bout forgot. I use reef crystals by instant ocean

 

[jackri]

The only thing it would help grow is possibly frogspawn skeleton -- that's the only thing using calcium right now.
380 isn't bad btw. Nitrates can inhibit growth as well and your lighting plays a factor along with the alk and mag levels.
Honestly for what you have weekly water changes should be enough IMO.

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by jackri
http:///forum/post/3208489
The only thing it would help grow is possibly frogspawn skeleton -- that's the only thing using calcium right now.
380 isn't bad btw. Nitrates can inhibit growth as well and your lighting plays a factor along with the alk and mag levels.
Honestly for what you have weekly water changes should be enough IMO.
+1
I would step up the water changes and get those migrated under control.
If you feel that you must dose (which you dont) than you need to know your dKH and magnesium readings as well.

 

[bang guy]

Your Toadstool is probably consuming 5 times more Calcium that your Frogspawn but I agree that with your coral load Calcium isn't going to be consumed rapidly.
Keep in mind that coral skeleton is Calcium carbonate. If you don't maintain your Carbonate levels (Alkalinity) then all of the Calcium in the world isn't going to help your corals. Calcium is consumed at a fraction of the pace that Carbonate is consumed percentage wise so it's a lot more important to keep alkalinity in a good range.
And get your own test kits. It's not practical to run to the LFS everytime you want to test your water.
Also, keep a log of your trace element levels so you can watch for consumption rates and trends. It's not vital right now but it's good practice for when your tank has evolved into a coral reef.

 

[stanlalee]

raising the calcium above 380ppm probably isn't going to do anything for coral growth but I wouldn't let it get any lower. You'd be more likely to get better growth elevating alkalinity which studies have shown increased growth rates. coral structures are made of calcium carbonate and alkalinity is a measure of the carbonates present in the water. for every 7ppm of calcium corals utilize they also utilize 17.9ppm (or 1 dKH) of carbonates so the focus shouldn't be so geared towards calcium. if your calcium/alk is 410ppm/8dkH corals dropping calcium to just 403ppm will drop your alk all the way down to 7dKH so you can see why alk is alot more important to keep on top of and alot more carbonate dosing is required than calcium.